Is Jesus Really Lord?

“Why do you call me, `Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46)

Introduction

Many Christians today call Jesus their “Lord” without fully understanding what it means.

During the time of the Apostles, in the first century, to call Jesus as your “Lord” meant that you were putting your life on the line.The Roman Emperors claimed Lordship over all the peoples of the empire, including Christians. Every year every person in the empire must offer an offering to the Emperor and publicly declare “Caesar is Lord!”Everyone who pledged allegiance to Caesar by doing this was issued a certificate. (I hope you do not have a certificate!) Anyone who will not do this was either imprisoned or killed or both.So, during the first century, when Christians said, “Jesus is Lord,” it was already a life and death decision!

Today, the phrase “Jesus is Lord” has become a meaningless expression for many people.It has become a catch phrase.

People who do not read the Bible use it.

People who do not go to church use it.

People who hate other people use it.

People who do not serve God use it.

People who should not live the way they are living use it.

People who would have nothing to do with God use it.

“Jesus is Lord” has become meaningless cliche.

let me briefly share with you WHY Jesus is our Lord.Jesus is Lord because of at least three Important Reasons:

Firstly, He is Lord by virtue of Creation – Jesus created everything. (John 1:1-3 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”)

Secondly, He is Lord by virtue of the Incarnation – God becoming man.Philippians 2:6-11 is so clear on this.Jesus is Immanuel – God with us.

Thirdly, He is Lord by virtue of Redemption – Jesus redeemed us from the empty way of life (1 Peter 1:18) we used to live.He bought us with a price.Yes, Salvation is Free for us, but for the Lord Jesus the price was very high (1 Peter 1:19 – we were bought with the precious blood of Christ).We no longer belong to ourselves, we are His. 1 Corinthians 3:19,20.Jesus is our Lord because He bought us from a life of sin, a life that was surely going to end in an eternity of suffering and misery. He is Lord because we owe our very lives to Him.Unless Jesus is LORD, he cannot SAVE us.

What does it mean when we say, “Jesus is Lord?”

There is a concept in the Bible that is reflected in the Middle Ages practice of feudalism.In feudalism a big king or Lord makes a covenant with smaller kings (his vassals).The covenant or agreement consists, among other things, of BLESSINGS, CURSES and REQUIREMENTS or demands (Just like the Ten Commandments). The Lord grants land to the vassal and the vassal in turn is required to fight for the Lord, to exhibit loyalty, to serve, etc. Just like the Lord in ancient times, there are certain demands that Jesus as our LORD requires from us as his subjects (vassals).

Here are the demands of Jesus as Lord:

1. As Lord, Jesus demands UNDYING LOVE

The greatest demand of the Lord upon us is to Love Him with all our heart, mind, soul and strength.(Matthew 22:37) A partial love is not enough.Even a 99.9% love is not enough.Jesus demands nothing less than 100% from us!

There are three words that can best describe our LOVE FOR CHRIST:

1.Worship.Worship is Love expressed.But we were not called only to sing songs to God.

2.Sacrifice. Love demands sacrifices.The woman and the child under a rubble in a Russian Earthquake.Where love is, sacrifice is sure to follow.

3.Service. Another evidence of love is service.We serve whom we love.

2. As Lord, Jesus demands UNWAVERING LOYALTY (Faithfulness)

LOYALTY means faithfulness. There are members in church who flee at the first sign of problems. These do not have loyalty. But there are those who, in spite of problems and trials, remained with us.These are loyal members.

Before we came to Jesus, Sin and Satan were our lords.We obeyed them.We were slaves to them. (Romans 6:16) But Jesus purchased us from the Devil and now we belong to Him.He owns us.We belong to Him. We are no longer ours.(1 Corinthians 3:19,20)He is now our Lord.We must be loyal to Him.We cannot have two masters in our lives. (Matthew 6:24) Loyalty means that we must only have ONE Lord (Master or Boss).It also means to remain faithful to Him no matter what.When the devil comes with a “better” offer, we would still side with Jesus — that is loyalty!When Satan comes with a “better” offer, tell him, “No thanks I’m saved!”

3. As Lord, Jesus demands UNFALTERING SERVICE

Another word for Lord is “Master.”He is the Master, we are His servants.The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25) teaches us that we are to Serve the Lord while He is away because a time is coming when He will return and settle accounts with us. If Jesus is our Lord, we cannot be lazy like the one talent man in the parable.Jesus said, “It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.”(Matthew 24:46)

Going to church is not SERVING the Lord. Most people who go to church do nothing, but sit and listen.That is not service.To serve the Lord is to find your own MINISTRY in the Church and serve God through your God-given gifts, talents and abilities.You can serve as teachers, as pastors, as evangelists, as missionaries, as ushers, as musicians, etc.

Ephesians 4:11-13 teaches us that all Christians are servants of God (not just the pastor or church worker). Christian! Don’t just sit there! Do something!

4. As Lord, Jesus demands UNQUESTIONING OBEDIENCE

Obedience means to follow what He says.Jesus said in John 14:15, “If you love me, OBEY me.”In Luke 6:46 Jesus rebuked the people with the following words, “Why do you call me ‘Lord,” when you do not obey me?”It would indeed be foolish if we call Jesus our Lord and yet live a life of disobedience to him.

Matthew 7:21 is stronger in this regard.It says,“Not everyone who says to me, `Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

5. As Lord, Jesus demands UNRIVALED PREEMINENCE

Preeminence means “first place.”The Lord Jesus demands first place in our lives.He has a right to first place in our lives.He bought us.He owns us.We belong to Him.1 Corinthians 3:19,20 tells us:“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”

Jesus must be more important than our parents or spouses or relatives or anyone else in the world.Listen to what He said in Matthew 10:37-39:

“Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

Conclusion

Is Jesus the Lord of your Life today?Does Jesus have first place in your list of priorities?Do you love Him more than anything and anyone else?If not, you can invite Him into your life today and make Him your Lord.Surrender your life to Him and He will make all things beautiful for you and your loved ones.